Page 42 of Serve and Protect
“Chris, he’s—!” Whatever she was going to say is cut off, and all I can hear is her muffled voice.
“Jennie!” I cry as I run to the cruiser.
“Hello, Sheriff.” It’s a familiar male voice, arrogant and lazy. “I imagine you’re looking for me right about now.”
My chest tightens as panic floods me. Thatson of a bitch!“Braggart, I swear to God, if you hurt—”
But the line goes dead.
Ricky’s already seated in the driver’s seat. I slide into the front passenger seat, and we tear off back to Jennie’s. On the way, I get on the radio and call for back-up to meet us there.
Chapter 15 – Jennie
I wave to Chris and the deputy as they pull out of my driveway and head for David’s parents’ house. When they’re out of sight, I unlock the door and step inside.
And here he is.
David is seated at my kitchen table with Granny, drinking a cup of coffee like he doesn’t have a care in the world. Like he didn’t just attempt to burn down my diner. Dawn is standing across the kitchen from them, leaning against the counter.
My lungs seize up, and suddenly I can’t breathe. I meet Dawn’s eyes—hers are wide with fear. We stare at each other for a long moment, and I can only hope we’re on the same wavelength. “Thanks for staying with Granny this morning,” I say, my voice impressively calm. Totally nonchalant. “You should head on home now.”
She nods. “Sure. Anytime.” And then to Granny, she says, “I’ll see you Monday, Rosie.”
She says that like it’s any other day. Like it’s no big deal. We’re all just going to ignore the narcissistic monster seated at the kitchen table.
Dawn gathers her purse and crochet bag and calmly heads out the door.Without locking it.
Thank you, Dawn!
Dawn will call for help the moment she gets into her house, and Chris and his officers will come. In the meanwhile, I just need to keep David occupied.
“What are you doing here, David?” Miraculously, I manage to keep my voice even.
“Is it a crime for me to want to spend time with my favorite girls? With myfamily?” He reaches across the table for Granny’s hand and gives it an affectionate pat.
She pulls her hand back, lays it in her lap, and gives me a beseeching look.She’s scared. She never liked David, and she’s aware enough at the moment to know he shouldn’t be here.
She knows we’re in trouble.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, still managing to sound calm when I’m anything but inside. My pulse is racing. I’m literally shaking. “I’d like for you to leave.”
Mentally, I’m calculating how long it will take Chris to get here. Three minutes? Five? Ten?
David leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m not going anywhere, Jennie-bean.”
God, just hearing him use that nickname brings back a wave of painful memories. How many times did he whisper that in my ear when he was hurting me? “I told you not to call me that!”
“Why not?” He sounds truly perplexed. “I’m just being affectionate, sugar.”
“Trust me, there’s nothing affectionate about you.”
David’s face reddens as he shoots to his feet and stalks toward me. I back up hastily until I hit the counter and can’t go any farther. He crowds me, getting right in my face, his hands caging me in. His hot breath hits me in the face when he grates out, “I’ll call you whatever the fuck I want to call you,Jennie-bean.Won’t I? And you’lllikeit.”
I wince. This close, I can smell the alcohol on his breath. I think it’s whiskey. Now a dangerous man is even more dangerous. David becomes a real monster when he’s intoxicated.
He leans in closer and skims his nose along my cheek. “You’ll like it, won’t you, Jennie?”
He wraps his fingers round my throat, not enough to cut off my air, but enough to make his point. My voice shakes when I say, “Yes.”
